Match-safe.



A. S. DUBRUM.

MATGHSAFE.

APPLICATION IILBD 001. 2, 1910.

1,007,547. Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

I l l COLUMBIA PLANoamu-n co.,wAs|-|XNOTON, n c.

To all whom it may concern:

UNTTED STATES PATENT QFFTCE.

ARTHUR S. DURRUM, OF DAYTON, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

MATCH-SAFE.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. DURRUM, citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Eddy and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match- Safes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in match safes, wherein a single match may be extracted without disturbing the remaining matches in the safe, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase efiiciencyand utility in devices of this chzffacter.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction hereinafter described and then specifically pointed out in the claim; and, the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view of the blank from which the safe is constructed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear and from beneath of the improved device in operative position. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. l

The improved device is constructed wholly of sheet metal, and comprises three portions, the body which is constructed from a single piece of sheet metal, bent to the required shape, a cover for the body hingedly connected thereto, and a follower member located within the body and bearing constantly upon the matches therein, and serving as a weight to keep the body of matches pressed downwardly so that the lowermost match will always be retained in position for ready removal.

In Fig. 1 is shown the blank from which the body is constructed and comprises the front portion 10, back portion 11, and the end portions 1213, the back 11 having an extension 14 along one side. Extending from the lower end of theback 11 is the bottom member-15, the-latter having side re cesses 16-17 and with a notch 18 in its outer edge as shown. The front 10 is longer than the back 11 and the lower ends of the sides 12-13 are formed oblique to the lon- Specifioation of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 12, 1910.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Serial No. 586,641.

gitudinal plane of the side, so that when the parts are folded along the dotted lines 19 a rectangular structure is produced with the lower ends of the sides inclined. Extending from the end 13 are a plurality of tongues 20, which fit through corresponding slits 21 at the juncture of the back 11' and the extension 14, so that when the parts are folded together the tongues 20 are inserted through the slits 21 and bent over the back 11, and thus unite the parts. Projecting from the inclined end of the side 12 is a flap-like member 22 having inclined edges and corresponding to and fitting within the recess 17 of the bottom 15, while a similar flap 23 projects from the bottom inclined edge of the side 13 and corresponds to and fits in the recess 16 of the bottom 15, so that when the parts 10111213 are folded into oblong form and secured by the tongues 20 and the bottom 15 and the flaps 2223 are folded together, the bottom of the structure is smooth internally and without projections, as the parts 1522'23 engage edge to edge. Thus at no point within the device are two thicknesses of the sheet metal present in the bottom. -By this means no obstructions are presented to retard the movements of the matches. Extending from the flap 23-is a relatively long tongue 24, while a smaller tongue 25 projects from the fiap 22 and is provided with a slit 26 to receive the tongue 21 when the receptacle is folded. The shorter slitted tongue 25 overlaps the central narrow portion of the bottom 15, while the longer tongue 21 also overlaps the bottom 15 and is passed through the slit 26 of the shorter tongue 25 and bent over upon itself, thus forming an effectual lock beneath the bottom of the receptacle to firmly unite the parts atthe narrow intermediate part of the bottom 15. This arrangement leaves the broader lower portion of .the bottom 15 free and unsupported, while at the same time reinforcing and strengthening the central narrow portion. At its lower end the front 10 is provided with a notch 27 corresponding to and located opposite the notch 18 of the bottom 15 when the receptacle is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus providing the means for extracting the matches one at a time, as wlll be obvious.

The matches are deposited wlthm the receptacle and a number of the matches will be displayed intermediate their ends through the notches 18-27, while the terminals of the matches are supported upon the bottom 15 at the sides of the notch 18. The material of which the device is constructed should possess the requisite degree of resiliency so that the matches when undisturbed will be firmly held in position, while at the same time a single match may be abstracted by the downward force applied causing it to displace the outer portions of the bottom 15 to permit the single match to pass, but preventing more than one match at a time from being abstracted. Formed in the upper portion of the back member 11 are apertures 28 through which the suspending devices, such as nails or hooks will pass to support the safe from a wall. or other stationary structure. The projecting portion 1 1 of the safe is bent into L- shape and provided with an abrasive substance upon its inner face to serve as a match scratcher. The upper ends of the sides 1213 are inclined substantially to the same extent as the lower ends and in parallel relation thereto, and form a sloping top. Hingedly united to the back 11 is a cover 29, the cover preferably rolled at its free edge to facilitate opening same.

Located within the casing forming the receptacle for the matches is a follower, preferably of sheet metal and bent into parallel relation whereby sides 30-31 are formed spaced a short distance apart and with a projection 32 at the free edge of the side 31, the projection being bent at right angles to the part 31 and soldered or otherwise secured to the free edge of the part 30 and eX- tending beyond the same and forming a flange, as shown. A strip of sheet metal 33 is soldered or otherwise secured to the bent or bight portion of the parts 30-31 and extends beyond the part 31 at the side opposite to the bent portion. 32. The two parts 32-33 are designed to bear against the inner faces of the members 10-11 and serve to prevent the united portions 3031 from tilting when moving downwardly upon the matches, but will maintain a uniform pressure upon the matches and thus prevent them from becoming clogged within the receptacle. The space between parts 3031 forms an air space to prevent any heat which may arise from the partly burned matches from being communicated to the mass of unburned matches beneath. Formed through the sides 1213 are openings 3435 through which the burned matches may be inserted to fall upon the follower. By this means the portion of the casing beneath the follower holds the unburned matches, while the space above the follower forms a receptacle for the burned matches. The space between the portions 3031 may be filled with asbestos or any other non-conducting substance or material to increase the safety of the device if preferred. For the purpose of illustration the asbestos is indicated by the character 36. At its upper end the front 10 is extended, as shown at 37, and bent over the upper portion of the front and provided with means for supporting the representation of a coin, preferably a Lincoln penny. Formed in the side edges of the upper front portion of the member 10 are longitudinal clefts or slit-s 3839, while L- shaped clefts or slits 404t1 are formed in the side edges of the member 10 below the center, thus leaving relatively narrow solid portions 4t2-43 between the clefts 3840 on one side and 39 11 at the opposite side. At their ends the slits 3839 are directed outwardly for a short distance, thus leaving relatively long tongues which may be bent downwardly to form supports for a sheet of paper, represented at 44, upon which advertising matter is placed. At their lower ends the clefts 40 11 are likewise ,,directed outwardly toward the center to form similar tongues to support the lower end of the advertising sheet. By this means the ad vertising sheet 44: is insertible beneath the tongues formed by the clefts and inserted and removed as required. By this means the sheet may be easily changed when it is desired to change the advertising matter.

At its upper end the sheet 44 projects beneath the lower edge of the downwardly turned extension 37, which thus supports the upper end of the advertising sheet.

Formed in one of the sides of the casing, for

instance, the side 13, are two U-shaped tongues t647 in which any suitable article may be supported, for instance, a thermometer &8, as shown.

The device may be of any required size, of any suitable material, and ornamented in any desired manner, may be suspended in any convenient location, will support the matches in convenient position for extraction one at a time, will hold the matches in place so long as any matches remain within the receptacle, and will operate effectually until the last match has been abstracted.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is.

A match safe of the character described formed from a single piece of sheet metal bent to shape and comprising a front, back and sides, a bottom integral with the back and formed with recesses 1n its slde edges and with reduced portion between the recesses, extensions upon the sides and corresponding to and fitting within the recesses of the bottom with the inner faces of the In testimony whereof, I affix my signature extensions even with the inner face of the in presence of two witnesses.

bottom and means externally of said bottom for uniting said extensions, the portion ARTHUR DURRUM' of said bottom which extends beyond the Witnesses:

uniting device of the extensions being un- JOHN M. COURTNEY, supported. CHARLES REGNIER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

